23 December 2009: Drummond Castle Gardens

The grounds of Drummond Castle near Crieff showcase the best example of a formal terraced garden in Scotland. Begun in 1630, this spectacular piece of decorative landscaping was a forerunner of Enlightenment ideas and remains the focal point for the wide expanse of surrounding parkland.

Drummond Castle itself was built on a rocky outcrop by John, 1st Lord Drummond. The 2nd Earl, a Privy Councillor to James VI and Charles I, succeeded in 1612 and is credited with transforming both the gardens and the castle. The keep still stands but the rest of the castle was restored and largely remodelled by the 1st Earl of Ancaster in 1890.

The aerial image here comes from RCAHMS latest publication, Above Scotland: The National Collection of Aerial Photography. Published on 8 October 2009, it was selected as Waterstone’s ‘Scottish Book of the Month’ for November and is now close to selling out its initial print run. The book will be reprinted in February 2010.